Bilstein shock install help!

MSmitty

MSmitty

New member
I installed the AEV 2.5 lift all day yesterday and finished everything except the front shocks. After three hours of fighting them, there just isn't enough thread on the top to bolt it down. It barely lines up with the top hole on both sides. How in the world do you tighten them down with basically zero thread on top? I can't even put the top washer/rubber bushing on the top. There would be no way. What am I doing wrong?
 
I can try. The shock is in there but no thread at the top. I lowered it all back down and buy the tire on hoping that enough pressure would allow the threads to move up a bit but no luck.. I'll go take some pictures.
 
Here is the top of the passenger side. This is without even the washer on top. Maybe one thread stocking through the top.
 

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MSmitty said:
Here is the top of the passenger side. This is without even the washer on top. Maybe one thread stocking through the top.
Click to expand...

What's going on under the shoulder washer in that top picture? It looks like a bushing is doubled up or something.
 
It should go in order: shock bushing cup, bushing, shock mount, bushing ,washer, nut. You should have a bushing on each side of the shock mount from the frame of the truck
 
Red_rox_jk said:
What's going on under the shoulder washer in that top picture? It looks like a bushing is doubled up or something.
Click to expand...

That's how the directions say to do it but even with all of that out it doesn't add any length to the shock. I've tried it both ways. Does the shock maybe expand more than I have it? I remember my old ranchos from a different Jeep twisted and expanded. I just don't think these did.
 
The order of pieces would be a metal washer then a rubber piece, put shock through hole in frame, rubber piece then metal washer then nut
 
Here is the pic from the AEV directions. Like I said, I also took all of that off and stuck it through the hold without any of it and it's still the same lenght. It doesn't give me any more thread.
 
Like dead said. That top bushing and larger washer belong on the top side of the shock tower. Not inside of it.

A few things to check. Make sure the dust boot is in the right place. Secondly, make sure the bushing in the fender (not engine bay side) is seating correctly in the shock tower.
 
The bottom half of diagram B should be on the bottom side of the shock tower. Top top half of the diagram should be on the top side of the shock tower.
 
OK I totally see what you guys are saying but if I remove ALL of it and just stick it through the hole it doesn't add any length to the shock threads. I still wouldn't be able to get a nut on the top end. I'm sure I'm doing something wrong but the shock just seems too short. The OEM shock threads stuck through the hole a good inch or more. This is barely a mm.
 
Now I'm wondering if o didn't release the pressure on them enough to expand them all the way.... It's possible since it was 3am after 12 hours installing.
 
If that is truly the case. Then my best guess would be that AEV sent the wrong application shock (if the shock is wrong, then the bushing likely is too). For piece of mind. I would try fitting the bushings with the shock threads completely out of the way. Just my $0.02.
 
Don't read this as being patronizing or anything. Just running this all thru my mind. On the off chance, is the frame jacked up or on Jack stands?
 
Red_rox_jk said:
Don't read this as being patronizing or anything. Just running this all thru my mind. On the off chance, is the frame jacked up or on Jack stands?
Click to expand...

Hey I'll take any help I can get. It was when we were trying in the beginning but at the end we lowered it all the way back down and even mounted the tire. Its still too short. There is a built on washer at the top of the shock that won't let any more thread through anyway. I'm am super confused...
 
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